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Gallop resigns but who is Shane Mattiske?

Roar Guru
5th June, 2012
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Roar Guru
5th June, 2012
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2238 Reads

NRL General Manager of Strategy Shane Mattiske will become the NRL’s new interim CEO after the shock resignation of former boss David Gallop today. Does he have the experience necessary to handle one of Australian sports most challenging positions?

Mattiske appears to have the qualifications to assume the mantle as NRL CEO.

It is understood Mattiske played a key role in the decision making process which allowed the Gold Coast Titans to become the NRL’s 16th team back in 2007.

Mattiske also played an important role securing the NRL media rights for internet and mobile phone technologies.

This experience will no doubt aid Mattiske as he aims to negotiate the NRL’s upcoming TV rights deal.

With Channel Nine, Ten and Fox Sports currently bidding for the 2013-17 NRL broadcast rights, Mattiske will be charged with delivering the $1 billion TV rights deal they are hoping to negotiate.

Gallop’s decision to resign from his post just months after signing a four year contract extension showcases the amount of pressure Mattiske will be under from the get go.

Gallop held the NRL CEO position for ten years and was contracted until 2016, but the impending negotiation of the NRL’s TV rights deal as well as a need for change demanded by the ARL Commission appears to have taken it’s toll.

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The way Gallop handled the 2010 Melbourne Storm Salary Cap scandal also left a lot to be desired among journalists, fans and footballers alike.

With Mattiske now taking charge, the question on everyone’s lips revolves around whether or not he will succeed in his new post.

His credentials will certainly be put under the spotlight soon enough, and if he manages to secure a $1 billion NRL TV rights deal for next season, he will go a long way to establishing himself as the right man to assume mantle as the NRL’s next CEO.

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